Up To Me Lyrics by Bob Dylan

Up To Me

Everything went from bad to worse, money never changed a thing,
Death kept followin, trackin us down, at least I heard your bluebird sing.
Now somebodys got to show their hand, time is an enemy,
I know youre long gone,
I guess it must be up to me.

If Id thought about it I never wouldve done it, I guess I wouldve let it slide,
If Id lived my life by what others were thinkin, the heart inside me wouldve died.
I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity,
Someone had to reach for the risin star,
I guess it was up to me.

Oh, the union central is pullin out and the orchids are in bloom,
Ive only got me one good shirt left and it smells of stale perfume.
In fourteen months Ive only smiled once and I didnt do it consciously,
Somebodys got to find your trail,
I guess it must be up to me.

It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch,
Id just about convinced myself that nothin had changed that much.
The old rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key,
Somebody had to unlock your heart,
He said it was up to me.

Well, I watched you slowly disappear down into the officers club,
I wouldve followed you in the door but I didnt have a ticket stub.
So I waited all night til the break of day, hopin one of us could get free,
When the dawn came over the river bridge,
I knew it was up to me.

Oh, the only decent thing I did when I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall near the cage where I used to work.
Was I a fool or not to try to protect your identity?
You looked a little burned out, my friend,
I thought it might be up to me.

Well, I met somebody face to face and I had to remove my hat,
Shes everything I need and love but I cant be swayed by that.
It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be,
But she aint a-gonna make me move,
I guess it must be up to me.

We heard the sermon on the mount and I knew it was too complex,
It didnt amount to anything more than what the broken glass reflects.
When you bite off more than you can chew you pay the penalty,
Somebodys got to tell the tale,
I guess it must be up to me.

Well, dupree came in pimpin tonight to the thunderbird cafe,
Crystal wanted to talk to him, I had to look the other way.
Well, I just cant rest without you, love, I need your company,
But you aint a-gonna cross the line,
I guess it must be up to me.

Theres a note left in the bottle, you can give it to estelle,
Shes the one you been wondrin about, but theres really nothin much to tell.
We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history,
Somebodys got to cry some tears,
I guess it must be up to me.

So go on, boys, and play your hands, life is a pantomime,
The ringleaders from the county seat say you dont have all that much time.
And the girl with me behind the shades, she aint my property,
One of us has got to hit the road,
I guess it must be up to me.

And if we never meet again, baby, remember me,
How my lone guitar played sweet for you that old-time melody.
And the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you, free,
No one else could play that tune,
You know it was up to me.